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Lions 72 - Fylde  7

A quacking game of rugby!!

Lions’ promotion drive gathered pace as they showed no mercy against a totally outclassed Fylde team to gain ample revenge for the narrow defeat early in the season.  Paul Turner turned back the years with a virtuoso performance at fly half to orchestrate a devastating all round team effort, with flanker Sam Tovo and centre Jacques Steyn to the fore.  Unfortunately the victory was marred by Jacques being carried off on a stretcher after appearing to suffer a serious ankle injury.

 Two hours before kick off the pitch was in perfect condition, but then half an hour of monsoon like rain left the playing surface looking more like the beach at Blackpool with puddles of standing water covering the pitch.  Credit must go to both teams and the officials for carrying on with the game. 

 Lions kicked off with colt Ryan Turner making his eagerly anticipated debut at full back.  An early penalty to Fylde allowed them to clear to half way, but it immediately became clear that they were in for a torrid evening as Rob Field stole the ball on their first throw into the line-out.  Paul Turner showed the first glimpses of what was to come as he angled a perfect kick into the corner against the breeze.  

It was all Lions in the early minutes with the pack driving in well despite the extremely wet conditions underfoot.  However, the referee twice penalised them as they set off on their now famous long range rolling mauls for offences that were not readily apparent in the Shed.  Not to worry……another long Paul Turner kick had the Fylde wing turning to retrieve the ball, but Eddie Saunders was up quickly to bundle him into touch. 

Sam was immediately in the thick of things again as he impersonated David Seaman (without the ponytail) diving full length to take the low kick off.  Lions quickly drove Fylde back into their own half, and again it was Sam gaining ground with a devastating burst, scattering defenders before him.  He seemed determined to erase the memory of the earlier defeat at Fylde when his sin binning contributed to Lions’ downfall.  His charge was stopped, but Lions were now on Fylde’s 22 metre line in the shadow of the posts with their put in at the scrum.  Paul Thompson picked up at number 8 to give scrum half Mark Edwards the room to set off on a beautiful arcing (appropriate in the conditions) run to the corner to claim the next try.  Having failed with his left boot in attempting to convert the first try from a similar position, Paul Turner showed his versatility by taking this attempt with his right foot.  Unfortunately his kick again was wide of the mark. 

From the kick off it was that man Sam Tovo again who drove the ball back at Fylde, with Oscar Wingham on his shoulder to take the pass and immediately have Fylde defending grimly.  Fylde’s cause was not helped as skipper Matt Filipo limped off to be replaced.  The next score was not long in coming, and again it was from an attacking scrum.  Again Paul Thompson picked up at the base, and this time Mark Edwards took the short route to the line as he dummied his way through. Paul Turner’s conversion flew straight and true. 

Lions were penalised from the restart, and the kick took Fylde into Lions’ 22 for the first time.  However, Lions were in no mood to concede any more yardage, and excellent tackling stopped the attack before a typical Sam Tovo big hit had Fylde going backwards.  The Shed revelled in another opponent being “Tovo’d”. 

Driving play by the forwards soon had Lions back in Fylde territory, and Paul Turner twice almost had Jacques Steyn in for a try.  First an inside pass to Jacques steaming through on the angled run was stopped by desperate tackling.  Then an audacious tap down (you had to see it to believe it) almost had the centre over again, but he was unable to hold the ball as defenders closed in.  

With Paul Shadbolt hurt, hooker Rob Harding came on to replace him at prop……..not a position Rob would choose to play based on discussions in the bar afterwards.  After being penalised in stemming another Lions’ drive, all Fylde eyes were on Tim Collier for the crash ball as Paul Turner took the tap penalty 5 metres out.  However, the wily old campaigner ran the ball to the short side for skipper Oscar Wingham to crash over in the corner.  By now Mister Turner must have been getting fed up with tries being scored wide out as his conversion attempt again failed.

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With half time approaching, the not so young Mister Turner almost had the very young Ryan Turner in for a debut try, but the full back snatched at the pass and the chance was lost.  However, Lions reached half time holding a very healthy lead with the Shed eagerly anticipating more to come.

Lions started the second half at a cracking pace, with Fylde again defending desperately.  A couple of forward drives were repulsed, but back came the Lions for Rob Harding to be driven over.  At the drier (but only just) end of the ground, Paul Turner found his kicking boots to add the conversion. 

Lions’ defending was matching their attacking prowess with centre Jacques Steyn leading the way.  One particular hit reverberated around the ground……the shock waves should be reaching his native South Africa shortly.  Heaven help anyone who gets hit by a double tackle from Sam and Jacques!  Lions turned the ball over for Paul Turner to drill another immaculate kick to the corner.  Lions again stole the ball on Fylde’s throw in at the line-out, for the forwards to drive over with hooker Kevin Dunn emerging from the mass to claim the try.  Again, Paul Turner converted. 

Jacques Steyn, enjoying his best game of the season, again terrorised the Fylde defence as he broke through and chipped the full back.  He was only denied a score by some excellent covering by Fylde’s scrum half, Dominic Castle.  When Lions were penalised for going over the top in the maul, Fylde attempted to run the ball clear, but another turnover in midfield, and quick hands along the backs saw Eddie Saunders streaking in again at the corner.  Paul Turner’s conversion was off target.

At last young Ryan Turner had a chance to show his paces as a long pass by Paul Turner put him clear on his own 22……..and has this boy got pace!!  To cries of “keep up Eddie” from the Shed, Ryan almost had his fellow colt Jordan Hands away, but the final pass went to ground.  More good handling in the backs saw Matt Tassel burst through, only to be hauled down on the line by a never-say-die Fylde who earned a penalty as Lions illegally drove into the ruck.

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A searing break by the fresh legs of Dave Muckalt (with the rest of him not far behind) set up another attacking position, but Lions were penalised as they swung the ball wide.  Back came Lions, and centre Jacques Steyn drove into the heart of the defence once again.  Unfortunately he fell awkwardly in the tackle and the referee immediately halted the game.  Sadly Jacques had to be taken off on a stretcher and was later transferred to hospital.  This certainly put a damper on proceedings, and it took some time for Lions, now playing with 14 men, to raise their game again.  But raise it they did, as Paul Turner and Matt Tassell created the opening for Eddie Saunders to skip around his marker to register his third try of the evening.  Paul Turner missed the conversion from wide out. 

At last Fylde were able to gain the consolation they deserved as a well worked move from a tapped penalty saw Craig Macintire race over between the posts for Dave Wiseman to add the conversion. 

There was still time for Lions to add one more try.  On the stroke of half time Ryan Turner came into the line to gleefully accept the pass from Matt Tassell and triumphantly dot the ball down for what I am sure will be the first senior try of an illustrious career.  Paul Turner magnanimously let Ryan add the conversion as the referee brought the game to a close. 

 This was another excellent performance from Lions, especially in the atrocious conditions underfoot.  It was sad that the game was marred by the injury to Jacques Steyn that will certainly keep him on the sidelines for the remaining 3 games of this campaign.  Let's hope that he has seen enough of Lions to want to come back next season.  He has certainly established himself as a favourite in the Shed, who would love to see him stay. 

Next week Lions have another home game against Kendal, and must continue their devastating form to keep the pressure on Rosslyn Park.  Selection will be interesting.  Young Ryan Turner certainly deserves another run out at full back.  We have an obvious replacement for Jacques assuming Ian Hyde is fit again.  With both Simon Amor and Mark Edwards away on duty for Cambridge University, Denzil Evans could slot in at fly half, allowing Mr. Turner a rest on the bench, with either Phil Reed or Gary Becconsall taking the scrum half berth.  

It is in the forwards that things really start getting interesting.  The back row of Sam Tovo, Oscar Wingham and Paul Thompson has been in fine form over the last couple of weeks.  With Steve Smith now fit and Jacques not being available through his injury, we have the mouth-watering possibility of playing Steve and Sam in the back row as our 2 overseas players.  But who do you leave out????  I’m glad that I’m not the one making the decision!!  This question could stir up as much interest as “who shot Phil Mitchell?”.

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Sam Tovo

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A study of Fylde’s last half dozen league results gives no hint of why they should have suffered such a drubbing at Rosslyn Park last Saturday that took a large chunk out of Rugby points difference advantage over the London club. However, the Fylde website’s preview of the game gave a hint of anticipated trouble, citing Fylde’s five-point winning margin against Park at Woodlands in December as a stimulant for retribution. They said. “In the match at the Woodlands, it was the forwards who performed so well to tame a powerful Park eight.”  

That then is a cue for the Lions who still feel the irritation of their one-point defeat at Fylde as long ago as October. So, Rosslyn Park, anything you can do we can do better!  

Fylde’s equilibrium has been upset of late with the NCA deducting four points (reduced to two points on appeal) from them “for failing to play Kendal in National League Two”. This game, at Kendal, was rescheduled from 30^th December to 4^th March when Fylde deemed the ground conditions unsafe for play. The media has not yet deducted the points as it presumably feels that the appeal is not yet exhausted.

It may not be potentially as difficult as last Saturday’s game but this is yet another must-win occasion.  

Don’t forget the game is on Friday 6^th April at 7.30pm!